AFL omission Josh Caddy is the other key inclusion into the side that will take on arch rival - the Werribee Tigers - for four points and the prestigious ‘K-Rock Cup’ at Simonds Stadium on Saturday.
It will be the first time Cats fans have seen Simpson and Burbury in action since the VFL Grand Final, while Walker has not been sighted since the VFL Round 1 Easter Sunday match against Williamstown at Torquay Football Ground.
Jesse Stringer (2 weeks) and Jackson Thurlow (1 week) will return after brief interruptions to their 2013 campaign.
The inclusions of Dawson Simpson and Josh Walker not only mean a dramatic increase in the average height of the Cats VFL side, they together with Andrew ‘Banjo’ Banjanin and Nathan Vardy provide the second tier Cats with a number of different rucking options – a far cry from the second string option of ‘186cm VFL stalwart’ Jack Hollmer that was used during the ‘ruck crisis’ in early 2013.
Geelong Falcon graduate Tom Gribble will once again represent the Cats as the 23rd player. Gribble was a stand out performer in his VFL debut against Frankston Dolphins last week amassing 33 possessions.
Jackson Sheringham (shoulder) and Jaxson Barham (hamstring) are the only confirmed ‘outs’ at this stage and the pace of both players will be missed against the slick Werribee Tigers.
There is no doubt the boys from Chirnside Park (otherwise known as Avalon Airport Oval) are one of the team’s to beat in 2013.
A strong off season recruiting campaign saw the Scott West coached side secure the services of Ben Warren (North Melbourne), Jared Moore (Sydney Swans), Brett Meredith (Sydney Swans), Adam Maric (Richmond), Kris Pendelbury (Collingwood VFL) and ex Brisbane Lions rookie Scott Clouston.
The impressive list of recruits was added to a group of extremely talented players who are hungry for success such as 2012 Liston Trophy winner Ben Ross, midfielder Ben Sharp and captain Robbie Castello.
The last time these two teams met they produced one of the most memorable VFL finals in recent memory.
At one stage in the 2012 Preliminary Final the Cats lead the Tigers by 47 points only for the Bees’ to get back within 5 points in the last quarter. The final siren sounded with the Tigers surging forward once again and looking to be on the verge of an unlikely victory.
The jubilation expressed by the Cats was in contrast to the disbelief of the Werribee players who had come so close to making the 2012 VFL decider.
This week’s rematch starts at 11.00am with the gates opening at 10.00am. The match will act as a curtain raiser to the TAC Cup Round 6 match between the Geelong Falcons and Northern Knights, which will commence at 2.00pm.
The VFL match is being played first to allow all Geelong Cats supporters, players and staff more time to get up to Melbourne for the Geelong Vs Richmond Round 6 AFL match.
As always at Simonds Stadium – 2013 Geelong Cats Members gain free entry!
You can also participate in the Cats live VFL chat with VFL writer Nathan Kettle by clicking here.
Bendigo Bank Cats - Round 5 Selected Side
B: Josh Hunt, Ryan Bathie, Jed Bews
HB: Jackson Thurlow, Mitchell Brown, Cameron Eardley
C: Jordan Murdoch, Troy Selwood, Josh Caddy
HF: Dominic Gleeson, Nathan Vardy, George Burbury
F: Joel Hamling, Josh Walker, Shane Kersten
R: Dawson Simpson, Jordan Schroder, Jesse Stringer
I/C: Piers Flanagan, Ben Raidme, Jack Hollmer, Daniel Measures, Brad Hartman, Andrew Banjanin, Mark Corrigan, Matthew Sully, Robert Condy, Jai Sheahan, Tom Gribble (23rd Player)
